Collapsible container

ABSTRACT

A collapsible container is provided having four side panels with twist-and-fold frames, joined on two opposing ends by end panels. A zippered opening is placed in one end panel and in one side panel. Handles are formed in the end panel on the side by the side panel containing the opening. Handles are formed in at least one of the side panels on either side of the side panel containing the opening, adjacent the end panels.

BACKGROUND

Collapsible containers are known with a rectangular body having a generally square cross-sectional shape and an open top on one square end, suitable for use as clothes hampers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. RE38,951 and 6,089,394. These hampers do not fit readily under beds or low shelves and if they are laid on their sides so they can fit, then they are difficult to carry since the handles are usually on the end adjacent the open top. Also, having an opening in the smaller end can make it more difficult to place larger objects in the container through the smaller opening in the smaller end.

Collapsible containers are also known with a rectangular body with a generally square cross-section and an open top on one of the longer sides, such as those in U.S. Pat. Nos. D461,638 and D449,447. These containers are suitable for clothes hampers and various storage uses, and are low enough to fit under some beds and under lower shelves, but they are undesirable because they have the opening in the longer side rather than in the smaller side, making it more difficult to place items in from that smaller side.

Some collapsible containers have openings in multiple sides of the container as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,385. While these various collapsible containers have openings in plural sides, the openings remain open and allow items in the containers to fall out, and are intended to do that since they are toy structures and must avoid trapping children inside. There is thus a need for a collapsible container usable in various orientations and having openings accessible on various sides which can be opened and closed as desired and having handles facilitating use in different orientations.

BRIEF SUMMARY

There is provided a collapsible container having four side panels formed with twist-and-fold frames that coil into overlapping loops. The side panels ends joined by end panels to form a generally rectangular enclosure. A first opening is formed in one of the first side panels with a zipper closure releasably closing the first opening. First handles are fastened to the end panels, by the side panel containing the first opening. This allows the container to be used as a storage container with a low height and a longer length with access through the larger side of the container. A second opening is formed in one of the end panels with a second zippered closure releasably closing the second opening. Second handles are fastened to at least one of the side panels on either side of the side panel containing the first opening. This allows the container to be used as a hamper that takes up a smaller amount of floor space but that is higher than suitable to place under a bed or low shelf. Advantageously, the panel opposite the first and second openings is a heaver, more rugged or durable material than is used on the other side panels and end panel of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages will be better understood by reference to the following drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a container of this invention in a vertical orientation;

FIG. 2 is a is a top perspective view of a container of FIG. 1 in a horizontal orientation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bottom of the container of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 with a zippered opening in the bottom being open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a collapsible container is provided having a twist-and-fold frame as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. RE38,951, 6,527,136, 6,089,394, and 5,560,385, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Briefly described, the container 20 has a frame 22 that is contained in a pocket 24 sewn, adhered or otherwise fastened to flexible material to form walls or panels 26. The frames 22 are the same size as or larger than the pockets to place the pockets 24 and the material to which the pockets are fastened, in tension. The frames 22 preferably stretch the panel material and pockets tight and advantageously form flat panels 26.

The adjacent edges of the pockets 24 along edges of panels 26 are joined to form an enclosed volume, preferably having a quadrilateral shape with four long sides 28 and two smaller ends 30. Preferably the edges of panels 26 are joined by fastening the adjacent pockets 24 together, or alternatively an insert or spacer can be inserted as described in Pat. No. Re38,951. Advantageously the ends 30 are covered by flexible material. Preferably the material is a fabric or plastic material. Advantageously the panels 26 are generally rectangular in shape, joined along the longer sides to adjacent panels 26. The ends 3 are advantageously generally square in shape, but could be other shapes, including rectangular or polygonal. The frame 22 is usually made of wire or plastic, and is flexible enough to twist and coil into overlapping loops. A restraint (not shown) may be used to keep the coiled, compact loops from springing open.

The frame 22 is referred to as a tension loop frame or a spring loop frame. The shape of the pockets 24 on the material covering the frames 22 determines the shape of the panels 26 and the resulting shape of the container 20. This is reflected by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/387,566, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

First and second openings 32 a, 32 b are formed, with opening 32 a in a side panel 26 and opening 32 b in an end 30. The openings are defined by a zipper 34 a, 34 b having zipper pulls 35 and flap 36 a, 36 b, respectively to close the openings 32. Part of the zippers 34 a, 34 b is on the panel 26 or end 30, and part of the zipper is on the flap 36. The zippers 34 allow the access openings 32 to be releasably opened or closed as the user desires. Heavy duty zippers are preferred. Advantageously, conical flaps of material forming zipper covers 38 are located at opposing ends of the zippers 34 a, 34 b so the zipper pulls 38 a, 38 b can fit within the covers 38. Such zipper covers are believed to be previously known in the art. Advantageously there are four side panels 26 with the first and third side panels opposite the second and third side panels, and with the first opening 32 a in the first side panel and the second opening 32 b in the first end panel.

First and second handles 40 a, 40 b are located on ends 30, adjacent the panel 26 containing the access opening 32 a. The handles 40 can take various forms such as straps or loops fastened to the end panels 30 or to the frame(s) 22 as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,136, the complete contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferably though, the handles 40 a, 40 b comprise handle openings in the ends 30 adjacent the panel 26 containing the access opening 32 a. Advantageously the handle openings are hemmed to prevent ravelling of the material forming the ends 30. Handles 40 are preferably located on two opposing end panels 30 of the container 20 adjacent the same panel 26 bearing the first access opening 32 a. Preferably, first handles 40 a, 40 b are located on the end panels 30, one each panel, adjacent the first side panel 26 having the first opening 32 a. Advantageously, the zippers 34 are U-shaped, with the flaps 36 connected to the side panel 26 or end 30 along one end of the flap. Advantageously the handle 40 a in the end 30 is formed in the connected portion of the flap 36 in the end 30.

Third and fourth handles 42 a, 42 b are located on panels 26, adjacent the end 30 containing the access opening 32 b. The handles 42 can take various forms such as straps fastened to the panels 26 or to the frame(s) 22 as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,136 at two locations, or as straps fastened to the panels 26 or to the frame 22 in one location. Preferably though, the handles 42 a, 42 b comprise handle openings in the panels 26 adjacent the end 30 containing the access opening 32 b. Advantageously the handle openings 42 are hemmed to prevent ravelling of the material forming the panels 26. Handles 42 are preferably located on two opposing panels 26 of the container 20 adjacent the same end 30 bearing the first access opening 32 b. Preferably, second handles 42 a, 42 b are located on opposing ends of the second or third side panel.

The access openings 32 in adjacent surfaces of the quadrilateral container 20 allow a consumer to use the container either as a hamper with the opening 32 b vertical, or to use the container as a storage chest with opening 32 a vertical. Preferably, but optionally, the side panel 26 opposite access opening 32 a is of a more durable material, as is the end 30 opposite the access opening 32 b. A heavier material is desirable since the container is more likely to rest on these surfaces which will then bear the weight of the items placed in container 20 when the container is lifted or dragged across a floor. Thus, a quadrilateral container 20 preferably has two of its eight sides made of more rugged, sturdier or stronger material than the other six sides (treating ends 30 as sides of a quadrilateral). Alternatively phrased, one of four side panels 26 and one of two ends 30, are made of more rugged, sturdier or stronger material than the other panels 26 and end 30. Preferably, the third side panel 26, the one opposite the first opening 32 a is made of a different, and sturdier, material than the first side panel 26 containing the first opening 32 a. Preferably, the second end panel 30, the one opposite the second opening 32 b, is made of a different and sturdier material than the first end panel 30 containing the second opening 32 b. The material covering the panels 26 and end panels 30 is preferably a continuous, uninterrupted web of material, be it solid fabric, canvas or plastic. A mesh material can be used to form the web covering the panel, but is less desirable.

The preferred embodiment has continuous loop frames 22. But it is possible to use discontinuous frames as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/074,675 filed Mar. 5, 2008, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Both of these types of frames advantageously twist and fold into overlapping loops. 

1. A collapsible container comprising: first, second, third and fourth side panels, each of the side panels having a web of material with a perimeter and a twist-and-fold frame member coupled to at least a portion of the perimeter; each of the side panels having a bottom side, and two opposing lateral sides and first and second opposing ends with each of the lateral sides of each side panel being coupled to a lateral side of an adjacent side panel so the first and third side panels are opposite to each other and the second and fourth side panels are opposite to each other; a first end panel having a plurality of sides with each of the floor panel sides being coupled to a plurality of the first ends; a second end panel having a plurality of sides with each of the floor panel sides being coupled to a plurality of the second ends; a first opening in the first side panel with a first cover configured to close the first opening being coupled to the container, a second opening in the first end panel and a second cover configured to close the second opening being coupled to the container; a first handle on the each end panel located by the first side panel; a second handle on each opposing end of at least one of the second or fourth side panels.
 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the side panels form a quadrilateral.
 3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the side panels form a quadrilateral having a generally square cross-sectional area.
 4. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings have a periphery and further comprising a zipper along the periphery releasably coupling the first and second openings to the first and second clovers, respectively.
 5. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the first handles comprise a handle opening.
 6. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the second handles comprise a handle opening.
 7. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the first and second handles all comprise a handle opening. 